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Burgess has a "whole new outlook on life"

At 60 years old, Mike Burgess felt the effects of his health history.

The Fairfax, Oklahoma resident required six insulin shots and two metformin pills on a daily basis to manage his diabetes. His A1C had climbed to 8.1 mmol/L and was categorized at a dangerous level. At 429 pounds, Burgess’ mobility limited him physically and impacted his mental state as well.

“I had been big my whole life,” Burgess said. “I just got to where I couldn’t do anything. I felt bad all the time … I couldn’t tie my shoes. I couldn’t go to a cookout. If I went places, I had to bring my own chair... Read More »

Five questions to ask when choosing a bariatric program

There are several aspects to consider when choosing a bariatric program. The most important factor for any medical or surgical program is safety. Each patient should feel they are prepared before, during and after surgery to be successful. The bariatric program you choose should have several features and benefits to equip you with the tools to be successful. It is important to understand you are not having a surgical procedure, but joining a bariatric program for lifelong follow-up.

Here are five questions you should ask any bariatric program before you begin your journey.

... Read More »

Lane overcomes obstacles for a healthy lifestyle

Erric Lane did not want to become a statistic, no matter the obstacles he had to face.

Heart disease and diabetes were common in Lane’s family history. His father died of heart disease at age 62. In addition to his genetic background, Lane has cerebral palsy, which limits the use of his legs.

At one time, he weighed more than 420 pounds and had a body mass index (BMI) of 58.

“I could barely get around,” Lane said. “My main mode of getting around the house was crawling. At my heaviest, I struggled to crawl.”

In March 2019, Lane decided he was not going to let... Read More »

Bariatric surgery helps patient's mental, physical outlook

When Abbea Porter made the decision to attend a Bailey Bariatrics weight loss seminar in June 2020, she began a journey that changed her physically and left a lasting impact on her mental state.

“I didn’t realize the depression and anxiety and how angry I was until I was on this side of it,” Porter said. “It changed my life.”

Porter had heard about the Bailey Bariatrics program from her mother. She had attended other weight loss seminars in the past, but, according to Porter, had “just never pulled the trigger.”

“In June 2020, I was ready,” she said. “I had gone... Read More »

Nurse thankful for Bailey Bariatrics in midst of pandemic

As a nurse, Cindy Snook witnessed first-hand the impact COVID-19 had on patients. So, when she did test positive with the virus, Snook was thankful for a decision she had already made.

“You saw the virus and would see obese people not doing so well,” Snook said. “I thought this is not going to be good.”

Before the pandemic, Snook chose to have weight-loss surgery through Bailey Bariatrics. Her surgery was in May 2020, something she was glad to have done.

“It was the best thing I’ve ever done in my whole life,” Snook said.

While the surgery proved to benefit... Read More »

Mother of eight finds a new life as Bailey Bariatrics patient

An array of sports and various other activities constantly keeps Cassie Smith, a mother of eight children, on the go. Whether it’s jogging with her high school son during his cross-country workouts or coaching her daughter’s cheer squad, Smith is thankful she can keep up with a busy schedule.

“I’m very active,” Smith said. “I have some kids that are in soccer, cross country and track. I can go do that now. I had never been able to do that before.”

Smith’s new lifestyle began in June 2020 after... Read More »

Are you missing the crunch?

Let’s face it – sometimes your taste buds want something that crunches. Before surgery, we see lots of snack foods (chips, crackers, etc.) listed on food logs. These types of foods fall under the carbohydrate food category and are limited after surgery.

Thankfully, there are some protein-rich chips on the market. For a whey-based chip, look for Quest chips at Walmart (pharmacy area), GNC, Sprouts, SAM’s Club and online. Depending on the flavor, these packs have 18-20 grams of protein and have five grams or less of carbohydrates... Read More »

Does Your Protein Measure Up?

Protein, protein, protein! That’s the first nutrient we emphasize as you go through our program. Do you know if your protein is measuring up? Protein is important in preserving muscle mass, a healthy immune system and hundreds of other important functions in our bodies. Your protein goal is provided to you during your first visit with the dietitian. There are several ways to calculate your protein.

Foods that have a Nutrition Facts label are helpful. This label lists the number of nutrients in one serving of the food. If the package has two servings and you eat the entire package... Read More »

Looking for Lactose

A fair number of bariatric patients end up with lactose intolerance after surgery. Lactose is the sugar found in milk from cows and goats.

During the rapid weight loss phase, you do lose some muscle mass. The digestive system is a muscle. Think of the small intestine like a roll of shag carpet, with the carpet fibers inside. Healthy small intestines will have structures more like shag carpet on the inside. These structures are called villi. When you lose muscle mass in the small intestines, the villi will shrink. That means you have less surface area to produce lactase. Lactase is... Read More »

The Fats of Life

Once upon a time, fat was considered bad for you. The low fat craze of the 1990s ushered in countless food products low in fat, but high in carbohydrates. People started seeing blood sugars go up. People were also hungry! Fat helps you stay fuller longer because it takes longer to digest.

What we know is fat is an essential nutrient:

Fat is a source of energy A part of hormones Is needed for the coating over the nerve cells Makes up part of cell membranes Cushions internal organs Helps absorb the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) And is part of what makes up the... Read More »